Everyone has probably seen a Christmas pageant where three young boys dress up as the three kings, complete with crowns and gifts, while the choir or congregation sings “We Three Kings.” This hymn may be the primary reason for this tradition and is a peculiarly American contribution to this season's repertoire.
The author and composer John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820-1891) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his education at the University of Vermont and General Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating in 1850. Hopkins then became the first church music instructor at General Theological Seminary and was the founding editor of the Church Journal (1853-1868).
Hopkins wrote the carol around 1857, based on the narrative of the magi's journey in Matthew 2:1-12. It was first published in the author’s Carols, Hymns, and Songs (1863). United Methodist Hymnal editor Carlton R. Young makes an interesting observation: “Because the wealth of USA Appalachian and other folk carols was yet to be discovered, this carol for almost a century was regarded by hymnal editors as the sole USA contribution to the repertory of English language carols.”
“We Three Kings” outlines its narrative in a manner that children might identify with. While the traditional number of magi is usually set at three, probably because of the three gifts that the biblical narrative discusses, it is unusual for Epiphany hymns to identify the number of magi as three. Stanzas two, three, and four describe in detail the symbolic nature of each gift of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The famous Oxford Book of Carols (1964) not only encouraged this dramatic presentation of the carol, but its editor, Martin Shaw, provided an arrangement suitable for three voices and labeled them by Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
The imagery of the star is central to the Epiphany season and the narrative. The refrain focuses on the star and invites us to follow the magi's light - “guide us to thy perfect light.” This epiphany may be reminded of the gifts the Magi brought to worship the newborn King and be led by that same star to use our gifts to worship him.